THE REAL KILLER UNCLEANNESS

Some Pharisees and teachers of the law challenged Jesus about why his disciples were eating with “unclean” hands, not doing the ceremonial washing before a meal. Jesus needed to set them straight on what really makes a person “unclean” before God. And it has nothing to do with soap and water.

(Commercial break. For your physical health and protection against disease, especially in the flu season: Yes! Wash your hands! Often and well!)

Now, back to the real killer uncleanness: Sin.

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them [make them unclean] by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them…For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” – Mark 7:14-15, 21-23

Sin. Deadly. Dangerous. Dirty. Sin comes from within us – to threaten, infect, destroy our peace, wreck our relationships with God and with each other and kill every single one of us. Sin is the true pandemic illness of this world that touches all of us. We must be humble enough to accept our only hope for cure: The blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Out of God’s outrageous love for us, Jesus took our punishment in death so that we might be given His pure life through the forgiveness of our sins and the power of His resurrection!

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22

To have Jesus as our Savior and Lord is the very power of God that conquers sin and death. The very power of God to cleanse, heal, free and transform our lives! Is it time for you to invite Jesus to be your Savior? He is here for you. He loves you unfailingly.

Maybe it’s time for you to…

Let Jesus know you need Him. We all do.

Ask for God’s forgiveness. We all have sinned. We all need to be forgiven.

Choose to trust in Jesus – in His death and in Jesus’ blood poured out on the cross to be the full payment for your sin debt before our Holy God. This is God’s fullest act of love for us.

Invite Jesus to be your Savior. This is the greatest life-transforming decision we can make.

Accept and believe the loving, faithful promise of God’s salvation for you and the promised gift of eternal life with our Lord in heaven! Thank Him! You are His child! Welcome Home!

May each of us let our holy God cleanse us with the power of His love and the gift of His salvation! May all of us, as His children by faith, live our lives in the beauty and power of His cleansing love!